Tesla Premium Connectivity is a monthly subscription that unlocks features beyond your vehicle's standard connectivity
Tesla Premium Connectivity costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year and adds features to your Tesla that rely on cellular data. Without it, your vehicle still connects to WiFi and uses onboard maps and navigation, but features like live traffic, satellite imagery in navigation, remote climate control through the Tesla app, and streaming music require the paid subscription. The service is separate from your vehicle's standard connectivity package, which comes with the car.
Tesla offers a trial period — typically one month free — when you first take delivery of your vehicle or when you purchase a used Tesla through Tesla's inventory. After the trial ends, the subscription either renews automatically at the monthly or annual rate you chose, or it lapses and you lose access to premium features until you resubscribe.
Key Takeaways
- Premium Connectivity costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year and provides cellular-dependent features like live traffic, satellite maps, and remote vehicle control through the Tesla app.
- Your vehicle still has basic navigation, WiFi connectivity, and Supercharger access without the subscription — Premium Connectivity is optional, not required to drive the car.
- Tesla includes a free trial period at delivery, but the subscription renews automatically unless you cancel it before the trial ends.
- You manage your subscription through the Tesla app or your vehicle's touchscreen under Controls > Service > Manage Subscription.
- Canceling Premium Connectivity does not affect your vehicle's warranty or safety features, and you can resubscribe at any time.
What Premium Connectivity includes and what it does not
Premium Connectivity unlocks real-time traffic visualization, satellite imagery in the navigation map, live weather data, and the ability to stream music and podcasts through the vehicle's speakers. It also enables remote features through the Tesla mobile app: you can precondition the cabin (heat or cool it), lock or unlock the doors, honk the horn, flash the lights, and check the vehicle's location and battery level from anywhere with an internet connection.
Standard connectivity — which comes with every Tesla — includes access to Supercharger locations and navigation to them, basic turn-by-turn directions using onboard maps, WiFi connectivity, and the ability to receive over-the-air software updates. Safety features like emergency calling and crash detection work regardless of subscription status. Autopilot and Full Self-Driving capability are separate purchases and do not depend on Premium Connectivity.
One common point of confusion: the Tesla app itself is free to read and use. Premium Connectivity only determines which features within the app function without WiFi. If you are connected to WiFi at home or at work, you can use most app features even without the subscription.
How to manage your subscription through the Tesla app and vehicle
You can view, pause, or cancel your subscription in two places. On your vehicle's touchscreen, go to Controls > Service > Manage Subscription. In the Tesla mobile app, open the menu, select your vehicle, then go to Subscription. Both routes show your current plan, the renewal date, and options to change or cancel.
If you want to pause the subscription temporarily rather than cancel it outright, Tesla offers a pause option that stops billing for up to three months. When you pause, you retain your subscription history and can resume without losing any settings. This is useful if you know you will not need remote features for a period but plan to resubscribe later.
Cancellation takes effect when ready, though you retain access through the end of the billing period you have already paid for. If you cancel mid-month on a monthly plan, you do not receive a refund for the unused portion. Annual plans follow the same rule — cancellation ends the subscription at the end of the year you paid for, not when ready.
The free trial period and what happens when it ends
Tesla includes one month of Premium Connectivity free with new vehicle delivery. The trial begins on the day you take delivery and runs for 30 days. During this period, you have full access to all premium features at no charge. Tesla sends notifications through the app and vehicle as the trial approaches its end date.
When the trial ends, your subscription automatically converts to a paid plan unless you cancel before the expiration date. The default is the monthly plan at $9.99 per month, though you can switch to the annual plan ($99 per year) at any time. If you do not cancel and do not choose a plan, Tesla will charge your payment method on file for the monthly subscription.
If you purchase a used Tesla through Tesla's official inventory, the vehicle may include a free trial period as well, depending on the vehicle's history and how long it has been in inventory. Tesla's website or the sales team can tell you whether a specific used vehicle includes a trial.
Comparing Premium Connectivity to other Tesla services and subscriptions
Tesla offers several separate subscriptions and services that are often confused with Premium Connectivity. Full Self-Driving (FSD) is a distinct purchase that costs between $12,000 and $15,000 upfront or $199 per month as a subscription, depending on when you purchase. FSD enables advanced autonomous driving features and is completely separate from Premium Connectivity — you can have one without the other.
Supercharging access is also separate. Most Tesla owners have free unlimited Supercharging for the life of the vehicle, though this varies by purchase date and region. Some owners pay per use at Superchargers. Premium Connectivity does not affect Supercharging costs or access.
In-vehicle entertainment services like Spotify and YouTube are available through the vehicle's built-in apps, but you need your own subscription to those services. Premium Connectivity does not include or provide those subscriptions — it only enables the vehicle to stream them over cellular data rather than requiring WiFi.
Why features require Premium Connectivity and how cellular data works in your Tesla
Features like live traffic and remote climate control require real-time data from Tesla's servers, which means your vehicle needs a cellular connection to fetch that data. Without Premium Connectivity, your vehicle still has a cellular modem for emergency services and software updates, but it does not maintain a continuous data connection for feature requests. Premium Connectivity activates that continuous connection.
Tesla uses cellular networks (LTE and 5G, depending on your region and vehicle model year) to deliver this data. The subscription cost covers Tesla's infrastructure to maintain these servers and connections, not the cellular carrier fees — Tesla has agreements with carriers to include cellular service as part of the vehicle's hardware. You do not pay your cellular carrier separately for this connection.
Satellite imagery in maps, for example, requires downloading image data in real time as you navigate. Live traffic requires constant updates from traffic sensors and Tesla's fleet data. These features would drain your vehicle's battery and storage if they were stored locally, so they are delivered on demand through the cellular connection when you need them.
Canceling Premium Connectivity and what you lose access to
When your Premium Connectivity subscription ends or you cancel it, you lose access to live traffic visualization, satellite map imagery, remote app features (climate control, lock/unlock, horn, lights), music and podcast streaming, and live weather data. Your vehicle reverts to standard connectivity features: basic navigation with onboard maps, Supercharger access, and WiFi connectivity.
Canceling does not affect your vehicle's warranty, safety features, or any purchased capabilities like Autopilot or Full Self-Driving. Your vehicle continues to operate normally and receive over-the-air updates. If you resubscribe later, all premium features return when ready.
Some owners cancel Premium Connectivity and rely on their phone's hotspot to provide WiFi to the vehicle when they need premium features. This works for features like remote climate control and music streaming, but live traffic and satellite imagery still require the subscription because they need the vehicle's cellular connection, not just any internet connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Premium Connectivity features on WiFi without paying for the subscription?
Most premium features require the subscription regardless of connection type. However, if your vehicle is connected to WiFi, some features like music streaming and app connectivity work without Premium Connectivity. Live traffic and satellite maps still require the subscription even on WiFi because they need real-time data from Tesla's servers.
What happens to my subscription if I sell my Tesla?
Your subscription is tied to your Tesla account, not the vehicle. When you transfer ownership, the new owner's account takes over the vehicle, and your subscription ends. The new owner receives a free trial period if they are a new Tesla customer, or they can purchase their own subscription.
Does Premium Connectivity work outside the United States?
Premium Connectivity works in most countries where Tesla operates, but availability and pricing may vary by region. Some countries have different subscription tiers or pricing. Check Tesla's website for your specific country to confirm current pricing and feature availability.
Can I get a refund if I cancel Premium Connectivity mid-month?
No. Cancellation ends your subscription at the end of the billing period you have already paid for. If you cancel mid-month on a monthly plan, you keep access through the end of that month but do not receive a refund for the unused days.
Is Premium Connectivity required to use Autopilot or Full Self-Driving?
No. Autopilot and Full Self-Driving are separate purchases and work independently of Premium Connectivity. However, some advanced features within Full Self-Driving may benefit from live traffic data, which requires Premium Connectivity to display in the navigation interface.